Military
How Would You Send $1.5 Trillion Dollars?
How would you spend $1.5 trillion dollars?
Statement from Code Pink
While the working class struggles to make ends meet, this budget propels the U.S. into more endless wars to enrich weapons and tech billionaires.
We demand a budget that invests in the people and planet, not death & destruction.
The Trump administration proposed the largest increase to war spending in modern history. If Congress falls in line, the Pentagon budget will reach $1.5 trillion in 2027.
To put that into perspective, if every dollar of this budget were represented by a minute, ...
The Art of The Bad Deal
“He's all hat and no cattle" is a quip Jim Hightower uses to describe feckless, blowhard politicians. Google AI says this old Texas colloquialism means someone who “talks a big game, acts showy, or makes grand promises, but lacks the actual substance, wealth, or capability to back it up.”
Donald Trump's foreign policy, especially with the Iran war, is all bluster and bluff with no substance or positive results. He is all hat and mouth but no cattle.
The U.S. and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allegedly end the war. But this is not a ...
Will Williams
Will Williams of Madison Veterans for Peace #25 has passed. He will be missed....
In 2009, Will received WI Network for Peace and Justice's Peacemaker of the Year award.
Learn more about Will Williams in the PBS documentary by Bill Moyers.
THE GOOD SOLDIER follows four veterans, one from World War II, two from Vietnam, and the fourth from Iraq — as they reveal how the experiences of battle changed their lives.
The film won an Emmy Award in 2009.
A memorial service for Will Williams will be held in Madison on Saturday, July 11, ...
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
“How have you, your family or your community been impacted by war.” This was the question Veterans for Peace and Northland Grandmothers for Peace asked the public on Memorial Day.* They gathered 175 statements.
Most of the responses discussed the loss or suffering of a family member. Some were about war diverting resources from important human needs. Some expressed pride in military service and said war was necessary to protect the country. Some feel complicit in the immorality of war and a personal need to work for peace.
Here are some of the anonymous, unedited ...
War Spending in Perspective
We all know federal spending on war and preparation for war – what we euphemistically call “defense” spending – is huge. But most people have no understanding of how big these numbers are, how they compare with other government spending, and what it all means for their lives.
People might understand $100,000 because that is about the median family income in the U.S. (which means half of families live on less). An average house costs around $400,000. But $7,400,000,000,000 – the total federal budget for FY 2026 – is just a big, incomprehensible number.
U...
War Spending in Perspective
We all know federal spending on war and preparation for war – what we euphemistically call “defense” spending – is huge. But most people have no understanding of how big these numbers are, how they compare with other government spending, and what it all means for their lives.
People might understand $100,000 because that is about the median family income in the U.S. (which means half of families live on less). An average house costs around $400,000. But $7,400,000,000,000 – the total federal budget for FY 2026 – is just a big, incomprehensible number.
Und...
A “Defense” Spending Surge
“In America, nothing – and I mean nothing – seems capable of reversing massive military spending and incessant warfare.” William Astore, a retired USAF Lt. Colonel, historian, author and commentator on military issues.
Pentagon spending for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026) is projected to be $961.6 billion. This is an 8.1% increase over FY2025. I say “projected” because with federal spending no one knows what the totals will be until after the fact. The dollars budgeted may not match the amounts authorized by Congress (in appropriation ...
A Better Way Than War
"Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." President Ronald Reagan.
We know from long experience that wars do not solve problems. Wars are the problem and only result in death, destruction, debt and suffering. There are better ways to settle conflicts and interact with our international neighbors. We know what can, and should, be done to end the scourge of war and create a world where conflicts are solved by peaceful means.
One of many solutions is more, and more robust, democracy. This is not a panacea. Democrac...
More on political violence
Donald Trump has a lot of damn gall accusing Democrats and liberals of inciting political violence. Since 2015 he has been a primary source of inflammatory, divisive, hate-filled political rhetoric that encouraged violence by his supporters. He is the only president in our history to incite a mob to attack Congress.
In the past I wrote about how political murders are actually rare in comparison to other murders. But they are increasing along with other hate crimes. This article updates a prior article on political violence
“The hope of a ...
Deja Vu History or a New Society?
Contemporary times have a feeling of deja vu, especially for a history teacher. Our new administration has its inspiration in an incompletely understood past. We can begin with an economic system built on protectionist tariffs which harkens back to the 16th to the 18th centuries in Europe. It was called mercantilism.
The system was simple, a country’s rulers wanted to produce wealth. What better way was there to do that than by having a trade surplus with every kingdom the country traded with. That resulted in countries trying to produce items, at higher cost ...